Variety (Nov 1931)

Taesday, Noyeirfiey 10, .193T TINES SUMARE VARIETY -a News From die Diulies This dapii'^'nant eontalns rewritten theatrical news Items at pub> lUhed during the week In ttte-dally papers «f New York, Chicago, San Franelscb, Hollywood and London. Variety takes no credit for these news items; each, has been-rewritten from a dally paper. • ' " • •' - : ' ' ■•• V ■ - ■ oompllmentary temv. The Jnry took only 7B minutes to return a verdlot for the defendant, Klunk, who was charged with circulating the al- leged libel. Attorneys for Miss Brlt- ton announced Uiat an appeal would be taken to the Supreme Court If necessary. Trial brought out much unsavory nlatter and at times even the press was barred from the courtroom. East Hozy theatre to drop singing en- ■emble. , replacing with various Mined organlEatlona as available. ^nOL also dispense with contract vocal soloists in favor of sppt en- gagements. Ballet corps enlarged. Group theatre plans production-of Jules Remain's 'Donogoo- Tonka,' aow being adapted by OUbert Seldes. Blilen van Volkenturg wUt frp. to London to stage 'The Dark Salny Samuel Schlltteh and MeyeV Xip- BchUa Indicted by Bronx grand Jury for alleged holdup of Llta Qrey Chaplin and Georges Carpentler last January. Recently-aPPr*hs''i4sd»' Annsi Case, now Mrs. . Clarence Mackay, lii a boxk yws the.real^-atar :at the opera season's olpenlng.' . New alarm .clock turns on the ladlo at rousing thode. "Time alaim set and dialed for whatever program may be desired.; Newest mag Is 'HuUabalpp.' take- off on fan mags. Produced by .pubs of 'Ballyhoo' and very^ sliUllai^ 'In make-up. Pickpockets operating on the. safe deposit users In the closed Times Square Trust Co. Since the bank- ing department dosed, box users have been asked to re'tiiote the con-, tents of their hlOh'es, arid dips- have been on the 'alert. Someone got $10,000 worth of jewels-out-.Of the hip pocket of B. A. Berk last week. Deppe DeVries to appear In a revival of 'Mme. Pompadour,' backed by. her husband, J. F; Le Bret Fred Lionsdale's version -will be used;. Edna Wallace Hopper back from Europe Wednesday on- the Olympic. To resume her ether chats. Equity awards two weeks salary to Mathilda, Barry, who rehearsed with The Bex FabW Out before the opening and claimed Improper notice. , . •. Maude Adams made ^e' front page o^ the NT. . T. 'Sun' when she opened in Cleveland-last week.. Two column cut and a tiirn to the dra- matlO page. Ward Morehouse's story. Play Jury to be sponsored by 'American Arbitration Ass'n will not be announced. Not even known to each other, as the Idea is. .to get .individual opinions, rather .than: a verdict. .. . ' ' . AMPA to vote the id'iAost impor- tant'^ihen in" the- film business and ask them to speak at the luncheons, WiUiam A.'Brady-.cohtemplates a series .of ..mats of .-Ulttle, Women' during .Xnms .holidays., ... . Thompson -Burtls,' playl^rlifht,' dl- vorced'-'by his iactress wife, Prances Ryan,- for .undue- intlmCU:yAwltH the leading .woman.-.of.his. show, -"Sis ters; of the Chorjis,'-. haS:: l),Sen- re- leased from. Jaili where l^e'has been since May '8, due to his .f^liire'to pay 11,700" back atlniony;- He liald ITBO-'and' promised to pay $26 a week hereafter. . Mrs. Helen Hoog Rogers, -wJio last week won. a- Reno divorce from Rowland Rogers, film producer, In jplte of an Injunction in the New Tork courts, has been served with an Order eitjolnlrtg her from at- tempting to- dispose 'Of property Jointly owned by herself and her husband at Cold Spring Harbor. French Boy Scout chorus newest musical attraction. To sing at Car- negie Hall next Saturday after a tour of Canada. ' - - : -^Curt Peterson, ■ announcer for NBC, Ig suing his wife for divorce, naming Jarnes T>. Stetson, of Hay- den, Stone & Co., as co-respondent. Suit Is brought In MIneola. At the same lime Mrs. Stetson Is suing in New York, making the same'sur- prise visit to the New Yorkoi' hotel the baj?l3 of her suit. According to the stories related, Mrs. Stetson, in eompany -with a private detective, J-ent to the hotel May 19 and found btetson with Mrs. Peterson. The twin divorce suits were brought f" came up about the same time Jn dlflterent courts, necossltjitlng a ipu % header for the witnesses, ine stetsons and Petersons were neighbors at Great Neck. One of the questions before the ▼oters of Englowood, N. J.,, last week was Sunday pictures and plc- 5 aa1° ''y a majority of about 3,000. -T^BC negotiating to put the Met opera on the air. Otto Kahn was opposed to the scheme, but It Is be- "cved that with his retirement the n>oj^e may go over. ♦i.?^". Brill, who came into hot "njoHeht when ho called Abra- ham Lincoln a 'schizoid maniac |lff;''f,'>allty'. Is encoring by ieclar ".'fit actors with Oxford accents J>rt# 5?"'20PhrenaIcs*. In support, ftvf V°'"'^<^P' of N- V; adds that wtrora Engll.sh Is an Invention of Mie elocution teachers who depart from the true standards In order to have something toi sell to the play- ers. Eileen Vanlt^ chased fifarry Rich- man around In a taxi '$2.60 worth. She did'not have the coin, so shei^ took a day. M9W she, says she's .cured,- \ ' ' " v ." Brandts have shifted their sub- way clroult Road attractions out of the Windsor, Brooklyn, and bookings go to the Platbush. Wind- sor' win go pictures. Too fe-w shows. Willie Howard to disc his Imper- sonations.- . . - .1 Vera Myers, now with Abom, plans ' recital,-'In costume, of her varlours oOmlc .-opera roles. Due in December. Z/eslIe Banks denies Hhat he will be in Benn Levy's play. Sticking to 'Lean Harvest' James W, Elliott oB tr^outs. Will open cold hereafter, but with two or three prior private performances. Erich Klelber remains'an. addl. tlonal week in this country to con- duct Philharmonic due to the non- arrival of Toscanlni. - ^ Pinellas county, Florida, votes to legalize parl-mutuels at dog races for the benefit of winter visitors. Malcolm Williams again reopens his two-year-old. claim' against Horac.e. Llverlght. for . twia weeks' salary Mn d^ault .of notice over 'Empress.' Gets $100. ^ United ]^roJectIonl8ts' of America asking a Phlla. charter.-In'-opposl tlon. to-old-lln» union. ^1^1 W...Jone,s announces plan for chain of ;i6mm. theatres. Says everythlhg'ls oke except, source of prodtfCt:' 'Hopes to get -'cut downs from regular producers. ' ' - Billy MInsky fighting vaude op position next door to. the Republic .on 42d street with lobby .cooch^rs— or Tvas. Doug> Fairbanks' travel Him now spotted around^ December. Probably at Rlalto or RlvoU; Project of show- ing :at Criterion dropped as U takes house for 'Strictly Dishonorable.' ' Sir Hubert Wilklns to give a se rles of lectures oh the trip of the Nautilus, Illustrated by pictures made by a'Paramount news man, Under auspices of NBC. .Emigrant Savings bank suing Mrs. Rene Harris, legatee of Henry B. Harris, for interest and principal of mortgage on Hudson thcaitre, in arrears since June 23. Before Saul S. Strelt, as. referee.' Interest Is $15,647 with a payment of $6,000. on principal. •Marriage for Three* latest title for Harris plajr last known as 'No iScandal*. Ernest Lert, German stager, to produce 'Gallery Gods'. Started yesterday (9).. Joseph Schlldkraut, arriving last Wed. for 'Gallery Gods'. Has con- tracts for Schnltzler's 'Young Me- darus', signed only a week prior to latter's death. Jack McGowan and RIchy Craig, Jr., 'writing the book for a new pro ductlon by Aarons and Freedley, Music by Gershwins. Frances Wilson, show glH, asking $100,000 from Karl Belts, sales manager of Detroit Airplane Corp.; for failure to make good his prom- ise of marriage. . Nan Britton loses her libel suit against o Marlon, D., hotelkeeper for circulating the book, 'An Answer to the President's Daugh tcr'. In a two-houv chairge to. the Jury Judge Wlllltts explained that the verdict li-'nged on the question as to whether or hot the author v.aa Ju.sllfiod In calling Miss Brltr Ion a dpgonci-ate and similar un Mrs. George Walton Webster, Jr;, who uSed to be'NIna Lewis, dancer, received the complaint In her hus- band's Reno suit for divorce. Pa- pers recite precisely the same charges she brought-in her suit for. separation two months ago; exces" sive drinking, nagging and mental cruelty. Alex 'Leftwitch, former dancer,, will make a try In Januairy with 'Dollars Up'. A musical by Dayton Stoddart and Adam Carroll. J. Stanley Joyce, 'who 'osed to be married to Peggy Joyce, lost a suit for $16,800 brought by fi. M. OatUe & Co., for delinquent payments on some $160,000 worth of Jewels pur^ chased for the later Mrs.. Joyce, the former-Nell York, before their marriage. Pauline' Frederick In from the Coast prior to rehearsals of 'When the-Bough Breaks'; Lorraine Pearl, of -Pearl sisters, now in 'East Wind', announces- her engagement to Donald Flonim of WMCA. Ceremony deferred until her sister, Leatrlce, can angle a mate, as they pledged each other to a' Joint Wedding. No - dope on how soon that may be and probably a press yarn. : , Final U. S. census figures give 1,829,123 home owned radios in New York state with 1,728,696 of these within, the limits of greater New York. Otto H. Kahn follows his retire- ment froni the opera; directorate with .similar withdrawal from Phil harmonic Symphony for same business reasons. Cornelia - Otis Skinn er t o give The Wi-ves of Henry. 'Vlrn' at the Avon Nov. 16. Impersonates all. of the wives. Later wIU' go on the road. Peck & Peck, haberdashers. In a Jam with prohlh officials. Imported 10,800 . papier mache chanipagne bottles to be filled with hosiery for Xnaas trade. Sle'zed -as being too Close an imitation of real- cham- pagne 1;ottles, which is against, the statutes. ' - Rowland Stebbins .is planning to produce, a play about the artist, James "Whistler. Written by Pauline Hopkins and Sarah Curry. Taken on the strength of a- Denver try out last summer. Muriel Window, who fetlred from the stage about 10. years ago when she married Arthur S. Hanford, Jr. of Sioux City, back In town aitd looking for work. Jane Wlnton,. picture actress, back 'in New York. Can't make pictures in Hollywood and live with husband in N. T., so she gives up Alms. Radio dealers getting ready for a rush to short waves as police order 250 sets for cruising patrol wagons. 'White House's blazing because the news leaked out that Mrs. Hoo- ver had her voice tested for the talkers. Now she will decline to listen to the tests and it is in timated that all news cameras are hereafter out. John Philip Sousa celebrated his 77th birthday. Fire which started In the radio control room of the Paramount hotel shortly after midnight Sunday morning filled the 18 stories with dense smoke which, caused the hotel to be emptied, firemen in gas masks carrying those overcome to the main ballroom, where emergency, pul motor crews established a. tempo- rary hospital. Four women were overcome, but a majority of - the guests suffered no permanent dis- comfort. Flames did little damage. Tom Cushlrig looking for . pro duccrs for four new plays, 'Red Ants,' 'Devil Prieferred,' 'Laughter of the Gods' and 'Crocodile Cure, Charles Hopkins,.who did Cushing's 'Devil In the Cheese,' may try one, out Road slump Is even hitting the college boys. Williams College Cap and Bells will defer its Xtiias play until spring owing to Inability to Obtain bookings during Xmos re cess. Joan Bennett arrived in New York on Saturday. • Shuberts will not do 'After All after all. Dwight Deere Wiman riiay take over the Van Druten script. . Sada Cow.in's 'Defiance,' original- ly picked by Arch Solwyn, now un- der sponsorship 'for the Brandts. For their subwely circuit. Uargairet A; McReynolds, playing Desdemona In a. burlesque on Othello,' amateur production in Hartford, Coiin., Saturday ' night, died on the stage of a heart attack. Westchester questioning legality of Gloria Swanson's recent marriage to Mike Farmer. <;License was' ob- tained in Mt Pleasartt,.but the cere- mony performed Iti Grecnbixrgh; which is not according to Westches- ter rules. Fid Ziegfeid, back from the coalst, announces that the 'Folics' is. too expensive to be sent.on the''road. Billy "Beef Trust' Wataori, appear- ing at the Orpheum theatre, Pater- son, in a revival .qt one of -his old burlesque, afterpieces to mark the 60th annlversary.<of hls'stage debut. Coast Gaylord F. LlOyd, brother of Har-'. old, is suing Caddo Productions arid Howard Hughes for $161,876 for the loss of his'left eye in. a studio explosion during ' the filming 'bf 'Scarf ace.* I " Ernst von Harringa wad airrested in Hollywood -last 'week on com- plaint, of Dr. Clifford Loos a-nd his former wife,' Anita Johnson, parents of Anita Loos,, on extortion, charges. It Is alleged von Harringa attenvpt- ed to extort $6,000 from the xom-^ plalnantisC 'Virginia L^ borbin is being sued by Dr. E. W. Trice for $800 medt'cal fees in L.' A. CUfC Edwards was denied a new trial on suit'for divorce from Irene L. Edwiards. -Although. Edwards. viae granted a divorce, the,-court refused to set aside property set tic merit under which he agree4 to turn over to his wife. $76,000 and to pay her one-rthird of his earnings as alimony. Edwards contends that his wife violated hei> part of the agreement by- associating 'with an- other man. John P. Mills, held in the Aolly wood 'love mart' case, was freed of charges of contributing to the de- Ilnquericy of-a minor.-Release^was effected when Clarice Tauber'-'Fla- debo, complaining witness, refused to testUy against Mills. . ^ . start a movement to recall Dwa^ as mayor.. Rodney Pantages Is being . sup4 by Betty Mayfleid, maid and cook, for $12,967 damages for Injuries received in an auto accident in-- volvlng the defendant's car. Suit filed in I* A, superior court Bill Boyd, on location near Fresno, Cal., sprained his baek 'iSur-. ing. the filming of a scene for 'Tim- ' ber Beast' He was chopping-wood. Alton Tully, sbn of Jlrii Tully, la being held In the L. A. county jail pending hearing on an application, for leniency in a girl attack. case. He hM pleaded guUty and stated that he. was arrested last March on a similar charge. . ' Alexander Pontages went to trial; in L. A. Inst week on charges pt attacking Eunice Prlngle, dancer. . Thtq is his . second . trial on' thesis, charges, the first'verdict being ro- turited in MlsS Pringle's favor for $1,000,000 damages last year. - .In- answer to Vumors: connecting the . names of Constance Bennett and Marquis, de la Falalse, with marriage as.- a prospect,' Miss Ben- hett told reporters 'there is noth- ing for me to say at the present time.' . It is rumored that they will be married Nov. 22. Mid^West -The Richard Arlens (Jobyn»' Ralston) all the way from' Holly- wood to' take' in the Northwestern- Minnesota ganie. . Arleri an alum- nus of Minnesota. .. " Continental Gold Coast du-b finally folded after Chicago cops 'Ua4e It too hot -with a series of raids.. More than $126,000 spent la decorating the club - alone, and It. never got started. Julian Eltlnge was discharged-from a. Hollywood hospital after recover- ing from injuries ' Infilcted by a swordflsh which he hauled into his boat Inez Norton, frlenA-of: the -late Arnold Rothstein,-is-enrolled at an aviation school seeking a.transport pilot's liciejnse.... Irene Rich. was. granted a divorce from David Blapkenhorn, - rea) es- tate broker, 'in San Francisco .on her cross complaint of ' cruelty. Both agreed that her M^ttri-^''-v(rot% broke up ' the majfWa'ge;"They "had been marrle'd tour-'drid'a haifyeara A $16i000 judgment awarded in L^ .A. Superior Court to Llla Mc- Comos, -film.,^xtra> for. injuries,,re- ceived when thrown from an ele- phant on ii F6x studio lot in 1927, was reversed Itist we'ek in the L. A. appellate' court • ' Iris Meredith, actress, has started suit In L. A. to gain ciistody of her son from Ellis Taylor, her -ex-hus- band. Fred Glrnau, convicted publisher, sentenced to eight years in-prison for sending obscene matter. In refr erence to Clara Bow, through the mails,' was granted 30 days' exten- sion of time in which to file ah ap' peal In the L. A. division of Circuit Court Lucy Beaumont,actress, was the victor last week in a court action in which Frank A. 'VIgers and his wife, Fanny, sued for $2,800,. as- serting that Miss Beaumont orally contracted to purchase some Lu- gana Beach property but faHed to do so. ' Mrs. Diana Rubini, ex-wife of Jan Rubini, orchestra leader, sued last week in L. .A. to ra;lse her ali- mony front $125 a month to $300 She got a $26 raise. ' Fire starting in the unoccupied home of Nash Cartan, banker, de sti-oyed the Mallbu Beach houses of Barbara. Stanwyck and Frank Pay, Ned Marin, Joseph Santley and the Cartan home. Several film people helped the ■ Santa Monica and Mallbu fire departments, quell the blaze which caused $100,000 dam- age. Alan bwan, Mallbu Beach mayor, averred that Warner Baxter . was guilty of negligence and should re- sign as honorary flro chief. Bax tor .states he was In Hollywood at the time of the fire and that while he is away from tl>e colony Dwan Is fire chief pro-lcm. Baxter says Dwan Old nothing and proposes to Charging slander and maliclona persecution, William Schroeder, .farmer, has filed a $10^000 damage suit against Irene-Csistle McLaugh- lin In. Waukegan, Dl. Former dancer recently prosecuted the' farmer on charges of -starving his live stock.' He was convicted' In the lower pourts,. but-acquitted on an appeal. Two men,' styling themselves traveling picture operators, ar-. rested and 'fined for carrying con^ cealed 'weapons in Chlldago. OaT* their ^ names--aa Edward Pritchard^ Englewood^ Cal.. and Joseph. 'Var- salona, Kansas City. Deiihonte hotel'and theatre'build- ing, St Louis, 'was sold for $76,000 at foreclosure to - satisfy mortgage holders. Theatre had been operated at a loss- for-years,-later It was re* modeled into a night club as-.jthe Club.Diablo, which al^b foiled .cmd. the spot was-converted into a skat-, ing rink. OrlglnaT pbst of the build^ Ing said tb'be arbund $600;000. ' ' ' North Shore Oircult theatre, Chi-' Cagoi' has folded after a drive for subscribers (failed to .moterlalizet- Organization;was tp have started-on. its 11th seoson this yefir, Qundby pictures p'ractlcaliy aa-. sur^ Alliance, O:, when city ordi- nance vote showed'a'tnajorlty 'oT nearly two t«f one. ~'Unemployment relief show ^t the Chloago Civic Opera house netted $9,600. Some 120 stage people took part Edna Ferber went slumming through Chicago' looking for new material. On her way east Community band concerts in Mln- ' neapoHs may be out next year, fol- lowing drastic reduction in the park board budget After buying a ticket to get in the Tivoli, Chicago, a calm bandit got awoy with only $74, scOrnlng $600 In silver lying in the oflflce.: He tried to get -dfncials' to. open the safe^ which contained $3|O00, hut'-waa talked out of it He got away be- fore police arrived. Ben Marden, New York and Cht-. oago night club ' owner, dropped from the membership rolls of the Chicago Board of Trade. Action against Marden was taken after Ly- man Irish, ■ New York brbker; claimed Marden-welshed on a gam-, bling debt of $21,000. William F. McDermott, drarifia. critic of the Cleveland 'Plain Deal- er,' was guest of honor and lectured before the Cleveland City Club.' Mc- Dermott spoke of foreign rum con- trol; not a -word about , the theatre. AI Miller, outdoor band leader, re- ports a mysterious attack upon him when shots from aa unknown auto riddled his windshield near Modi- sOn, Wis. Miller was on his wa] to his home in Wilton, Wte., whes. his assailants' car caught up wltb him and the shouting began. Miller was unhurt but matter was reported to Madison police,.who are- InvcsligaUng. Miller claims he knows of no rca.son for the attack.